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^Sakhtiari.
12. The appointment of Morteza Quli Khan to he Governor of Bakhtiari
has not yet taken effect. Morteza Quli is being wayward and has again increased
his demands. It seems doubtful now whether he will accept the appointment on
any reasonable terms. Meanwhile, although there are many reports of what the
A^khtiari could do and might do, nothing very much is happening. The general
impression is that the majority of the tribesmen want to be left in peace. This
does not mean that they cannot be stirred up. A report, for which there is
probably some basis of truth, says that a detachment of Persian troops of some
thirty men was disarmed at Luzdegan in the Janiki Sardsir, 70 miles south-west
of Isfahan. The leader in this affair is said to have been Abdul Qasim
Bakhtiari, who was reported in Summary No. 12/42, paragraph 16, to have
broken away from detention in Tehran.
Kurdistan.
13. The rebel Kurds are reported to have evacuated Saqqiz and to have
withdrawn towards Baneh. This is reported in the Persian press as a great
success for the Persian army. There may have been some skirmishing with the
rebels, but there is no immediate intention of reoccupying Saqqiz with Persian
forces. It is reported from Tabriz that an emissary from Hama Rashid had
arrived there saying that the latter was ready to discuss terms of peace.
Khorassan.
14. Soulat-es-Sultaneh is reported to have surrendered and to be on his way
under escort to the capital.
Persian Forces.
Morale.
15. In the south a spirit of defeatism seems to be spreading among Persian
troops. As the tribes grow bolder, the army grows more pusillanimous. Several
small detachments have surrendered their arms without excuse. The generals
of the Isfahan and Pars Divisions, believing that they hear the rumbles of coming
trouble in the Bakhtiari, Boir Ahmadi and Qashqai tribes, have reported that
their troops, being locally conscripted, cannot be relied upon to fight against local
tribes. This is a pretext, as only a small proportion of the Pars and Isfahan
troops are enlisted from the tribes mentioned. The generals in question have been
relieved. The fault lies entirely with the officers, many of whom, apart from their
natural dislike of any hardship, are influenced by their pro-Axis sentiments and
by enemy propaganda against taking any action that might be helpful to the
British. There are many indications that the attitude of young officers is very
hostile.
Appointments — Military.
16—(i) Sartip Abdur Reza Afkhami (M.A. 2) (F.O. 2) to be Military
Governor of Tehran.
(ii) Sartip Mehdi Quli Tajbaksh (M.A. 209) (P.O. 291) to be General Officer
Commanding the South-Western Division (Lurestan and Khuzestan).
(iii) Sartip Zahidi Fazlullah (M.A. 303) (F.O. 217) to be General Officer
Commanding the Isfahan Division.
The Persian Royal Family.
17. According to the Journal de Tehran, the ex-Shah is not in good health
in Mauritius. The following from his entourage have left Mauritius for
Persia :—
H.M. Ismat-ul-Maluk, wife of Reza Shah.
H.H. Prince Hamid Reza, sixth son of Reza Shah.
H.H. Princess Fatimeh Pahlavi, third daughter of Reza Shah.
H.H. Shamsul Maluk, eldest daughter of Reza Shah.
Faridun Jam, son-in-law of Reza Shah.